As part of our sixth-grade summer reading program, students were assigned Shelley Pearsall’s novel, The Seventh Most Important Thing. Imagine their surprise, when one morning in September, they entered their language arts class to find the author herself live on the big screen! From her home in Scotland, Ms. Pearsall spent hours engaging with students, sharing stories of her inspirational writing journey, discussing her creative process, answering countless questions, and sparking a love of reading and writing in all of our Patriots.
Ms. Pearsall began the session by allowing our students to ask her questions about how she got started as a writer. Ms. Pearsall revealed that her writing journey began at the same age as our sixth graders. With the encouragement of her grandfather, she began to recognize her passion for writing.
When asked if she could share what she wrote at their age, Ms. Pearsall delighted the students with photos of her first book, a 37 page non-fiction work.
While this book wasn’t chosen by a publisher, the rejection she faced fueled her to continue writing. After 20 years of submitting her work to publishers, she achieved her dream at age 33, marking a significant milestone in her journey as a published author. Our students continued to ask Ms. Pearsall questions about her creative process and inspirations, which of her books she would love to see adapted into a movie, whether she reads her published books, and how long it takes her to write a novel.
“I see words like clay. I keep playing with them until I get the right ones,” shares Ms. Pearsall, regarding the number or drafts it takes her to complete a book before it reaches publication.
After our students got to know Ms. Pearsall, they had the opportunity to explore the fascinating context behind The Seventh Most Important Thing. Ms. Pearsall explained that some of her characters were inspired by real people, while others who were fictitious appeared naturally during the writing process. The book’s main character, James Hampton, was a real-life artist who worked on a sculpture for 14 years, and inspired her fictional tale. She shared pictures of her notes from visiting his sculpture, discussed the unsolved mystery of a coded alphabet that Hampton used during his artistic process, and Pearsall linked the significance of the number seven with Hampton’s art, and her novel. She emphasized how art, like Hampton’s, plays a role in healing, a key theme in the novel.
As an encouragement to the sixth grade students, Ms. Pearsall wrapped up the sessions by sharing her favorite quote to give to young writers. “Only the hand that erases can write,” meaning you have to be able to be okay with changing your writing to be a good writer.
CDS is grateful for the opportunity Ms. Pearsall provided our students, allowing a fascinating glimpse into her life and love of writing. Through her candid discussions, inspiring stories, and engaging personality, she left a profound impact on the aspiring writers in the room. A quote from The Seventh Most Important Thing, "everything of value takes time," struck a chord, reminding students that success in writing, and in life, requires patience, effort, and dedication. This inspiring experience has left our students eager to embrace their own creative journey ahead with renewed passion, and Patriot Nation looks forward to seeing what they have in store.